Animals Asia mission is to:To save and nurture bears rescued from torture and give them the quality of life they deserve.

BEAR KITCHEN NOW BUILT

The Bear kitchen is at the heart of Animals Asia's Bear Sanctuary in China. Here, every week, up to 7000kg of fresh fruit and vegetables are lovingly prepared for the 178 resident bears. Thanks to the generosity of New Zealand and Australian bear lovers, The Assisi Memorial Bear Kitchen has been built and is now fully operational.

Assisi’s friends will benefit from a big spacious kitchen that houses all the food and treats. The kitchen is laid out with a large preparation area containing sinks and work benches. There are three further rooms – one for storage of dried goods, another for fresh fruit and vegetables and a large freezer area.

Every morning and afternoon a designated team of five people measure out, weigh and prepare the food for delivery to each bear enclosure. Vegetables are chopped and sorted into labelled baskets which are then delivered on tricycles with each bear being catered for according to their dietary requirements and disabilities.

Yummy treats such as giant fresh fruit ice blocks are whipped up, along with rice mixes and noodles which are used for the bears’ enrichment programme. An official opening will be held in May 2012.

Now that the kitchen is built we need to make sure that the shelves are fully stocked. The bears have big bellies to fill and you can help provide the fresh fruit and vegetables and the delicious treats that they adore. Watch this space for news about a new fundraising campaign.

Animal cruelty in any form is abhorrent to me, however none affects me quite as deeply as the abuse inflicted on the beautiful Moon Bears in the ghastly bile farms of China.

This was the motivation that thrust us into a campaign to rescue a bear, enlisting the help of our generous readers of Animals' Voice, and to name him after a very special Saint, St Francis of Assisi.

The thrill of the rescue, the tensions endured through his shaky rehabilitation, the ecstasy of his freedom, those first steps on the grass, and finally the deep sorrow when his short time of happiness ended and he went to the Saint whose name he bore, will be forever etched in my heart.

Now, in his memory, we are determined to build a bear kitchen in Chengdu to replace that which was destroyed by the Schizuan earthquake. The Assisi Bear Kitchen will prepare food for all the future bears that will be rescued, in his memory, and with his love.

I invite you to share the love, and some of your money.

Keep believing

BOB KERRIDGE, MNZM., KStJ., JP., FNZIM., BAppAnTech.
Executive Director, SPCA Auckland
National President, Royal New Zealand SPCA